20 | JULY 25 • 2024
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The First Lady of

J

ackie Kallen, known as “The First
Lady of Boxing,
” will take part in
a benefit to help “Knockout Skin
Cancer” at the Steinway Piano Gallery in
Commerce Township from 6-9 p.m. on
Thursday, Aug. 1.
Kallen rose to fame as one of boxing’s
first and most successful female managers,
most notably working with Multi-Weight
World Champion James Toney. Kallen
lives in the Detroit area and still manages
three professional boxers.
Kallen was inducted into the Michigan
Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1997 and
was inducted into the International Boxing
Hall of Fame last month.
In addition to Kallen, there will be other
special guest appearances from the boxing
world in attendance.
The cost to attend the “Knockout
Skin Cancer” benefit is $100
per ticket, which includes hors
d’
oeuvres and buffet prepared
by Andiamo, complimentary
valet parking, an open bar fea-
turing fine wine, craft cocktails
and beer, music performed by The
Blue Guitar, as well as a DJ, a sports
memorabilia silent auction, 360 Photo
Booth and the chance to win autographed
boxing gloves. The evening’s ambiance is
designed by Gerych’s Flowers & Events.
While Kallen is excited for what’s going
to be a night of fun and entertainment, the
event is also very personal to her.
Kallen got her first skin cancer diagnosis
38 years ago when she was 40 years old.
She’s had several squamous cells and basal
cells along with overcoming two bouts of
malignant melanoma.
“When I was young, I didn’t have sun-
screen and things like that. We actually
went the other way — we did whatever
we could to get the darkest tan. We didn’t
realize the danger of the sun’s rays in
large doses,” Kallen said. “I haven’t laid
out in the sun since I was 40, when I first
found out I had a propensity for this. It’s

something people need to be aware of —
anybody can get skin cancer.”
Alkawther Gerych, creator of the
Michigan-based UEmpower Foundation,
is spearheading the benefit. Gerych’s hus-
band, Jon Gerych, is also a skin cancer
survivor. Monies raised from the benefit
will go directly to support patients of all
ages needing assistance with financial and
emotional care, along with health classes.
Kallen has been in boxing for 45 years
now. Her life was the inspiration for the
2004 film Against the Ropes, starring
Meg Ryan as Kallen. She also worked as
a consultant for the reality TV series The
Contender with Sylvester Stallone.
Kallen is excited to receive another
award at Little Caesars Arena on July 27
where boxing superstar and two-
time Olympic Gold medalist
Claressa Shields will present
her first-ever “GWOAT”
(Greatest Woman Of All
Time) award to Kallen.
The award recognizes
Kallen’s “leadership, accom-
plishments and embodi-
ment of what it means to be a
‘Greatest Woman of All Time.’”
“When I can do an event like this, tak-
ing my boxing background and mixing
it with a good cause, it just comes all
together for me,” Kallen said. “I certainly
want to raise awareness for my kids and
grandkids and their generations about
the dangers of exposure to the sun with-
out sunscreen. I hope they will be a little
more diligent, because it’s the damage
you get when you’re young that comes
back to bite you years later.
“It’s a very unpleasant form of cancer
that can be very disfiguring. If we save
one person from going through what
I’ve gone through, then I consider it a
worthy cause.”

Get your tickets at https://uempower.org/event/

uempower-together-with-jackie-kallen.

OUR COMMUNITY

Jackie Kallen to appear at
“Knockout Skin Cancer” benefi
t.

DANNY SCHWARTZ
SENIOR STAFF
REPORTER

Alkawther
Gerych, (left)
president of
the UEmpower
Foundation,
teamed up with
Jackie Kallen for the
“Knockout Skin Cancer”
benefit on Aug. 1.

Jackie Kallen
and James
Toney